I have just returned from a family holiday to Texel. I love this island because there are birds everywhere. Texel is known for it’s breeding Spoonbills, Sandwich Terns, Arctic Terns and Hen Harriers and as a stopover for migrating waders. Above all, for twitchers, the island has hosted a wide range of rare birds, such as the Caspian Plover just two weeks ago. When we were there there was a Black Guillemot on the beach (my second ever) on saterday evening, apparently weakend and unable to fly and eventually grabbed and killed by a dog before our eyes. Next day a Woodchat Shrike was present and there was a good passage of raptors with seven Black Kites, two Red Kites and a Red-Footed Falcon. The flock of twelve Dotterels could not be relocated, but I found a flock of 16 myself. Other nice bird during the week were Ortolan, Wood Warbler, some White Storks and a Pectoral Sandpiper.
See some pictures below.
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Zwarte Zeekoet | Black Guillemot
Roodkopklauwier | Woodchat Shrike
Roodkopklauwier | Woodchat Shrike
Fluiter | Wood Warbler
Fluiter | Wood Warbler
Goudplevier | European Golden Plover
Goudplevier | European Golden Plover
Lepelaar | Spoonbill
Lepelaar | Spoonbill
Rietzanger | Sedge Warbler
Rietzanger | Sedge Warbler
Morinelplevier | Eurasian Dotterel
Huismus | House Sparrow
Grauwe Gans | Greylag Goose
Grauwe Gans | Greylag Goose
Tapuit | Northern Wheatear
Arnold Meijer 
Mooie foto’s Arnold. Texel heeft altijd wat te bieden.
Berry
I do hope something was done about the dog AND OWNER
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Prachtige foto’s. Sneu dat het zeekoetje zo aan zijn einde kwam. Dan kun je beter door een roofdier gedood en opgegeten worden. Zo’n hond hapt je alleen dood. Waren de eigenaren in de buurt?
Ik heb naar je blog gelinkt in mijn blog van vandaag (Lepelaar Texel)
Posting images of a weakened black guillemot being killed by a dog serves no purpose other than to show that you visit areas where dogs are not controlled. I am glad that you were excited by seeing a black guillemot but a simple mention that unfortunately it was killed by a unleashed dog would suffice. No need for three pictures of the dog killing the guillemot.
I do not agree. This is what happened and i made photos of it. Otherwise i would be sufficient just to mention that i saw a Black Guillemot, wich was killed by a dog, without posting any pictures at all.
Hi Arnold, I think you were right to show the pictures of the dog killing the bird to highlight just how irresponsible some dog owners are. Dogs themselves cannot be held responsible but the owners should and in some cases the owners should be rightly prosecuted. Obviously I don’t know what the law is in The Netherlands but in The UK unless a dog attacks a human the law is very weak. I have pretty much stopped birding on one of my local patches due to a number of run-ins with stupid and irresponsible dog-owners. Quite frankly I don’t need the abuse I get when I try and explain there are nesting birds.
I once had to speak to a Police Dog handler who was leaving a scent trail through a field containing a breeding pair of Little Ringed Plover that were obviously distressed by them.